Diane Ward
Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Most of us will never have an opportunity quite like Paul and Silas to witness and evangelize. We can by God’s grace live in an attitude of joy in times of trouble and despair as a light in a dark world. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
On a second
missionary journey Paul sees a vision of a man in Macedonia asking for help.
He, Silas and others immediately set sail for Neapolitan. From Neapolis they
travel to Philippi. While in Philippi Paul meets a fortune telling slave girl and
casts the evil spirit from her. Slave masters angered that her profitable
skills are gone beat and imprison Paul and Silas. Shackled, they continue to sing
and praise God!
As a 7-point Richter scale earthquake occurs they are
miraculously unfettered and the gates of the prison swing open. As the jailer
trembles in fear ready to kill himself, Paul and Silas evangelize and baptize him
and his entire family.
I watched the pastor’s
wife at my home church in Atlanta at her son’s burial begin to sing “God is So
Good.” A recently ordained pastor he was killed in a head on collision. I didn’t
know then that I would lose my son a few years later. The pastor’s wife remains
today in my heart and mind as one whose faith and trust allowed her to sing a song in the night. Job 35:10
“I saw you stand
bravely for years but saw no trace of senseless fears.
I saw you stand
calmly through stress but caught no glimpse of bitterness.
I saw you stand prayerful
in grief but saw no trace of unbelief.
Though you spoke
well of Jesus Christ, I caught your faith, watching your life.”
(Karen Stork, 1983)
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